Riverview House Mitigation Scoping Project

LATEST INFO:

Background

The Riverview House (the yellow building at Bowdoinham’s new Riverfront Park) is owned by the Town and has been rented to a private company for years. The rent has helped cover maintenance costs. However, this 1950s building sits in a flood zone and is now showing its age—it needs significant repairs.

During the 2024 Town Meeting residents approved an amendment to the CMP TIF to put $525,000 towards investigating and improving this building for economic development purposes. The hazard mitigation study performed by Acorn Engineering is the first step to understanding the costs and risks of investing in the building to keep it usable and marketable. Another option on the table is demolishing the building and expanding the open space at the park. 

Options Under Consideration

  • Renovate in place (including elevation and floodproofing within the current footprint) - Funded through CMP TIF

  • Rebuild new (construct a larger code-compliant building outside the flood zone) - Funded through CMP TIF

  • Demolish (remove the building and expand park open space) - Funded through the General Fund

Funding 

This initial planning/design effort is 75% funded by a FEMA BRIC grant and 25% by the Town’s CMP TIF. BRIC is a pre-disaster hazard mitigation program that funds planning and risk-reduction projects. The CMP TIF is not synonymous with the General Fund, it is a separate account which simply sets aside the property tax collected from CMP on their transmission line parcels. 

Further, any future investment in the building for economic development purposes (i.e. accommodating at least one local business and/or used for promoting local businesses, and upkeep and maintenance) can be funded using CMP TIF, keeping this work budget-neutral to residents. Similar as to how the renovations at the Old Town Hall were funded. The CMP TIF has $525,000 allocated to this project. Learn more about the TIF here: https://www.bowdoinham.com/project/tax-increment-financing-tif-district

However, TIF funds have not been allocated for the demolition of the building. Further, the construction of a community or recreation center is not an allowable investment under current TIF laws. If this direction is sought the General Fund would be used. 

Survey

We want to hear from you! Your input will help guide the future of this building and the Riverfront Park. Please share your thoughts in this short survey by January 18, 2026. Survey: https://forms.office.com/r/BVz01MBviA 

Why Now? Liability & Maintenance!

Leaving the building as-is carries ongoing maintenance and liability risks, particularly because the building is in the flood plain and has known condition issues (e.g., mold and asbestos). If the building remains in service as a revenue generator, basic remediation (mold/asbestos abatement) and minimum flood-risk measures are expected to be required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this raise my property taxes?
  • Yes, if you demolish it. If demolition is chosen the TIF will not cover that expense and it will be paid for out of the General Fund. Further, a revenue generating source will be lost. Or propose a use that is not funded by the TIF such as a recreation office or a community center.
  • No, it won't if the Town choose to keep this a revenue generating property and/or one which promotes local businesses. The planning/design work to date has been funded by FEMA BRIC (75%) and the Town’s CMP/Riverfront TIF (25%). Any future eligible improvements to the building (renovate or build new) and including ongoing maintenance would be funded through the CMP TIF, not the General Fund. Further, if it remains a revenue generator it assists with the property tax burden. 
Why not just leave the building alone?

The building is in a flood hazard area and has condition issues. Leaving it as-is means ongoing maintenance and liability exposure; if it remains, basic remediation and minimum flood measures would be needed.

What will determine whether we renovate, rebuild, or demolish?

Findings from hazard mitigation and architectural/structural assessments, cost estimates, community input, and alignment with economic development goals under the CMP TIF program will help steer next steps. There is no immediate plan for the building's future but if a significant maintenance concern arises or there are changes proposed to the lease agreement this information can help to inform next steps taken by the Selectboard. 

Where can I learn more about the TIF program?

Visit https://www.bowdoinham.com/project/tax-increment-financing-tif-district for details.

Timeline

February 25, 2026 - The Town held a second public meeting where the conclusion of the study was shared which are the cost estimates for demolition, renovation, and new construction options. Here is the presentation. Updated 2-9-26 Demo & Site Plans and 2-6-26 Riverview House Plans also available. Recording here: https://youtu.be/ZSJ1-GYMbDk 

January 9, 2026 - Following the first public meeting a survey was released (1/9-18/2026) asking those who could not attend to weigh in on what uses for the building are desired, including demolition and if it was a priority of the community that the building be used as a source of revenue. In addition, if the building was to stay would residents be in favor of a new building outside of the flood zone or renovate the existing building.  Survey results here. Also made available is the Structural Integrity Report.

In addition, new floor plans dated 1-9-26 were made in response to the public meeting removing dining seating. 1/8/26 Public Meeting #1 Recording Available: Riverview House Public Meeting 1 01082026 

January 8, 2026 - The Town hosted its first public meeting to discuss community desires for the Riverfront House. At the meeting the results of the Mold & Asbestos Report and Due Diligence Report were discussed and preliminary floor plans were reviewed. Recording available here: Riverview House Public Meeting 1 01082026 

October 2025 - The Town hired Acorn Engineering to investigate the conditions of the Riverview House (yellow building in the new Bowdoinham Riverfront Park) and create conceptual designs on potential future building uses through a stakeholder process. This meeting will show the findings on the existing conditions of the Riverview House) and gather input on potential future building uses, as well as present conceptual designs ahead of preparing preliminary design plans. Please see the attached RFP for the full scope of work by the consultant. 75% of this work is funded by a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities FEMA grant and 25% is funded through the Town's CMP TIF. 

March 2025 -  Awarded FEMA BRIC grant
October 2024 - Applied for FEMA BRIC grant

June 2024 - Town Meeting approves $525,000 in CMP TIF development program for the building

February 2024 - CDAC provides memo to Selectboard in support of investigating the building and placing funding request in CMP TIF

2018 - During the Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan planning process the community was surveyed twice to determine the fate of the Yellow Cape. 

  1. An online survey was distributed during early August through Celebrate Bowdoinham 2018 which asked, “What would you like to see happen with the YELLOW CAPE on the property?” A total of 46 responses were collected.
  • The majority (16) voted to convert it into a Welcome/Education Center.
  • 14 voted for it to be renovated and rented out as an income base for the Town.
  • Nine voted it should be removed and the area kept as open space.
  • Seven voted for the building to stay the same and be rented out as an income base for the Town.
  1. A follow up survey revisited the question simply asking if the Town should keep or remove the yellow cape with 48 voted in favor of keeping it and 23 voted to remove it. This data was presented to the community during the Public Meeting in the Master Site Plan for Redevelopment Public Works Property report on November 7, 2018. 

2005 - In the 2005 Waterfront Plan which was passed at the June 15, 2005 town meeting recommendations for the “Yellow Cape” were “For now, the Town should keep part of this building rented office space. Given the number of police calls to the waterfront area the Town is also well-advised to maintain a substation office here for the Sagadahoc sheriff. In the long term, however, the building may not be well located or well suited to Town needs. A future Selectboard may need to consider relocating, renovating, and/or selling the building to be moved off-site.”